Clauses as sentence elements

    As elements in sentence structure, subordinate clauses most commonly function as adjuncts. They may also have the following functions:

1   Subject:

        What you need is a long holiday.                nominal relative

        Leaving home can be very traumatic.         -ing clause  

        To give up now would be such a pity.         to-clause

        That he should fail to turn up is really      that-clause  
        annoying.                                                            

With the exception of nominal relatives and -ing clauses,
clauses functioning as subjects are rare. The -ed type (Dressed
in armour . . . ) cannot function as a subject.

2   Direct object :

         Paul knows that Amy prefers tennis.        that-clause 

         Jim offered to drive us to the airport.        to-clause  

         Mary enjoys visiting art galleries.            -ing clause  

         We still don’t know what will happen.    nominal relative 

3   Subject complement :

       A detective’s first job is to collect the evidence.    to-clause 

      The main problem is finding enough money.        -ing clause 

      The real reason is that I can’t stand him.            that-clause 


      That’s what I’m trying to tell you.                nominal relative